Automatic pumping mechanism



May W, W38. J. o. MOMILLAN 2,117,563

I AUTOMATiC PUMPING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 17, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 2Sheets-Sheet 2 J. o. MQMILLAN AUTOMATIC PUMPING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 17,1954 May E7, 1938.

L-LAJ VII/ll Patented May 17, 1938 AUTOMATIC PUMPING MECHANISM James 0.McMillan, Wichita, Kans.

Application Dec'ember 11. 1934, Serial No. 757,946

6 Claims. (01. 103-150) This invention relates to a pumping mechanismand aims generally to provide a construction especially, but notnecessarily, adapted for embodiment in an automatic domestic orhousepulsating, positive displacement type, operating with minimumfriction, havingits moving parts isolated from contact with the materialbeing pumped and so assembled as not to req l Ye additional lubricationafter leaving the factory.

The invention enables me to dispense with the use of leather cups andassociated parts, cylinders, cross-heads, wrist pins, packing glands,-

springs if desired, and the replenishing of lubricant in the crank case,by employing a crankshaft and a connecting rod and suitable bearings asthe sole movingparts for the diaphragm employed; the connecting rodpreferably being relatively long to eliminate strain and undue wear onthe diaphragm.

A prime object is to provide a construction of pump of the classreferred to having the diaphragm uprightand the connecting rodsubstantially horizontal, with all parts readily accessible forinspection and repair, as well as simple, dur able and efficient inoperation. 7 Another important object is to' provide means forautomatic-ally permitting escape of excess air and for maintaining apredetermined amount of cushioning air in the storage tank. A furtherobject is to provide means in such a system whereby the motor may storeup excess energy during that cycle of operation which requires verylittle power andapply such stored up energy duringthe period requiredmost, aiding in smoother and quieter operation.

Additionally! aim to provide such a pumping system as has the operatingparts resiliently or equivalently mounted and wherein the pump isembodied in an automatic apparatus as shown in accompanying drawings andhereinafter more hereinafter be pointed out and others will become.apparentfrom a consideration of said drawings taken in connection withthe accompanying description.

In'said drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view of one form ofthe improved apparatus, partly inelevation and partly in sec-" tion; j

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail section particularly illustrating .thevalves of said apparatus;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken adjacent the crank shaft ofsaid apparatus;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken across the diaphragm,pumping chamber and priming chamberj. i

Fig. 5 is a view of a modified form, partly in side elevation and partlyin section; 5

Fig. 6 is a central vertical section through one of the valve devicesused in said modifiedform, and

I Fig. '7 is a detail section taken on the line I-Tof Fig. 6. 1 10Referring specifically to the drawings wherein like reference charactersdesignate like or corresponding parts, It) designates a pumping unithaving a casing l I, preferably of suitable sectional construction,having apriming chamber 15 i2 with which a suction inlet pipe I3isconnected and which pipe communicates with a well or other source ofwater or fluid supply. In priming chamber l2, a removable bucketstrainer l4 is'preferabiy disposed, while a vacuum chamber 20 I5 capsthe priming chamber.

Said casing II has a diaphragm or suction chamber l6 communicating withthe priming and I Q' by expansivesprings 22 engaging the same and also"engaging heads 23jon.studs 24,

- which the 'springssurround, and on which said valves 2| and 2| areslidable. Studs 24 may be scrcwed'to the walls If! as shown at 25. Theoutlet or discharge pipe of the pump is shown at 26 leading from thechamber l8 close to the valve 2|. therein;

Particular attention is directed to the fact that the casing l l isformed with a vertical open side, being the left hand side in Figure 1and this side or opening is closed water-tight by a diaphragm 22' ofrubber or other suitable flexible material 45 and which is. operableto'actuate the pump by providing the necessary pulsations. Saiddiaphragm preferably has a leather backing to increase'its life byminimizing chafing and wear.

phragm thus functioning asa closure for the open side of the casing, andalso as a gasket, as well as being readily accessible for inspection andreplacement.

An L-shapedvalve body or tube 30 is con nected to and communicates withthe casing between the valves 2| and 2|, with the suction chamber l6,having a ball check valve 3| therein urged to its seat to cut off theinlet of air by an expansive spring 32, Another 'ball check valve 33 islocated in tube 30 and movable to and from seats 34 and 35. On thesuction stroke of the pump, air is drawn into the suction chamberthrough tube 30, past valves 3| and 33, the latter valve being loose inthe tube and moves from seat 34 to seat 35. When it engages the seat 34,the intake of air through the tube 36 is cut off. Thus the amount of airpermitted to enter is limited. It is controlled by the extent of themovement of said valve 33 between its seats. On the opposite stroke ofthe pump, valve 33 is forced against its seat 35 to prevent the escapeof water or other fluid to the atmosphere.

Attention is directed to .another valve or ball 36 carried by a cage 31disposed in an interior wall of chamber l8, the ball being loose in thecage and movable between a seat 38 and a pin 39,- the seat being groovedor channeled at 46 whereby it is never fully closed by the ball so thatwater may leak from chamber l8 past the ball 36. This leakage occursbelow the point where water enters discharge pipe 26 so as to keep theentrance "to the pipe sealed with water to maintain a high suctionefliciency.

' Said casing II and crank case 21 have legs- 4| and 42, respectivelybolted or otherwise secured at 43 to a platform or base 44.

A transversely disposed crank shaft 45 is journalled in a plurality oflubricant-filled and sealed ball bearing devices or equivalent at 46 andthe 'crank 41 of. that shaft is disposed within the crank case 21. Onsaid crank, a sleeve 48 is disposed by means of an eccentric bore 49 andwhich sleeve is fastened rigidly in place, in any adjusted position by anut 50 threaded on a stud 5| on the crank, a lock washer 52 preferablybeing interposed. A horizontal connecting rod or pitman' 53 -isjournalled on said sleeve 48 and is -connected to the diaphragm. Theadjustment of the sleeve 48 previously referred to, controls the throwof the connecting rod. Said parts are accessible for adjustment throughan opening in the crank case at 21 which is closed by a plate 21 boltedtothe crank case at 21; Said plate, about the bolt holes thereof, hasbosses 21 to space the plate between the bolts from, the crank case at21 to enable breathing of the device to relieve any pressure or? partialvacuum on the diaphragm.

Reverting to the connection of the connecting rod and diaphragm, anabutment 54 is formed on the connecting rod beyond which a stud 55extends. On this stud 55, two reversely dished washers or plates 56-ofbronze or other suitable metal, with the diaphragm 22' therebetween, arestrung and then clamped tightly together and against the abutment 54 bya nut 51 screw threaded on the stud 55. This construction permits accessto all of the parts for inspection and repair and as all of thvariousbearings, such as 46 are filled at the factory with suitablelubrifrom an electric motor 66, whose shaft 6| carries afly-wheel 62.Feet 63 on said motor 60 are bolted as at 64 to the base 44.

Said base 44 is mounted directlyover a hydropneumatic tank 65 supportedby feet 66 or otherwise. on a suitable foundation. The base and tankhave aligned studs 61 and 68, respectively. over which are'telescoped,removable rubber or other resilient tubes 68 longer than the two studsengaged thereby so that the studs of the tank and of the base cannottouch through vibration.

The discharge pipe 26 has a lower section," disposed out of metalliccontact therewith, connected to the tank 65 so as to dischar into thelatter.. A rubber or other flexible hose 11 is removably telescoped overthe free ends of discharge pipe sections 26 and 10, with the aid ofconventional clamps 12. 7

A pipe 13 rises from and communicates with the interior of tank 65,being unconnected to platform 44 and carrying a switch 14 ofconventional form to control the supply of electric current from asuitable source, operable by the pressure in tank 45 communicatedthrough'pipe- 13. From the switch 14, a flexible conducting cableconnection leads to the motor 60. As far as my invention is concerned,element 14 need be merely any conventional type of pressure-operatedswitch. However, in actual practice, it pref-,-

say of a spigot Should an excess of air be pumped into the being closed)into suction chamber I6, air tofa limited extent also being drawn inthrough tube ,30 under control of the valves therein, the vacuum chamberl5 insuring a steady suction and the pulsatingshocks being cushioned bythe air in chamber l8. Leakage occurs past valve 36 because of groove46. On the discharge stroke of the diaphragm, valve 2| seats and valve2| opens, the water passing through ports 20' into chamber l8 and thencethrough pipes 26-10 into tank 65 from which it iswithdrawn through pipe15. When valve 2| is open, valve 33 closes tube 38 against the escape ofwater. Because-of the withdrawal of water through pipe 25, the pressurein the tank 65 fluctuates and as the operation of switch 14 is dependentupon that pressure, due to withdrawal within a limited range,

l it operates automatically to drive the motor 60,

belt 59, pulley 58, crank shaft 45, connecting rod 53; diaphragm 22 and'all other parts of the apparatus.

Various changes will be apparent and may', be

' resorted to within the spirit and, scope of my invention. Forinstance, I may use the modified form illustrated in the figures notheretofore specifically referred to. The pump casing88 of this form hasan inlet at 8|, priming chamber 7 82, .vacuum chamber 83, passage 84,suction chamber and discharge and air chamber 86,

corresponding to and operating like the parts,

Bald valve structures 81 and 88 consist of cages ll fastened to thecasing 80 and contain ports O therethrough. About saidports, the cageshave annular "concave seats alengaged by contractile rubber ring valves92. A diaphragm 22! similar to the leather backed diaphragm 22' ismounted and driven by the same means as in the preceding form. on itssuction stroke, the lower ring valve 92 is dilated to open the ports ofits seat while on the otherstroke the remaining ring valve 92 dilates toopen its ports while the first mentioned ring valve contracts and closesits ports. In this form, the tube 30 and valves therein, and the valve36 and cage 3'! may be omitted. The casing 80, crank case 95 and motor96 of this form, are bolted as at 9!, 98 and 99 to a base 93 havingsupporting legs 8d. The switch I00, functioning like that at I4, issupported on the base, having a pipe IOI, communieating with the pumpingchamber of the pumpintermediate the valves 81 and 88 to function likethat at I3. A discharge pipe I02 leadsirom chamber 85 to a tank l03,likethat atv 65, having a draw-oil? or outlet pipe Ind.

Itis obvious that the principles of the apparatus may be used not onlyto pump water but may be adapted for any fluid, air or other gas ormixture of them.

I claim as my invention:-

1. An apparatus of the class described having a pump casing open at oneside, a diaphragm closing said side, means to actuate said diaphragm,said casing having a priming chamber, a suction chamber and a dischargechamber, two valves, one to open as the other closes, controlllngcommunication between the chambers and coacting with the diaphagm on theopposite strokes thereof to effect pumping, the casing having a passagefor the intake of air into the suction chamber, said passage having twoseatstherein, a valve movable from one of the said seats to the otherseat, said valve being movable through operation of the diaphragm andagainst one seat to limit the intake of air and. against the other seatto prevent discharge through the passage.

2. An apparatus of the class described having a pump casing open at oneside, a diaphragm closing said side, means to actuate said diaphragm,said casing having a priming chamber,

a suction chamber and a discharge chamber, two

valves, one to open as the other closes, controlling communicationbetween the chambers and coacting with the diaphragm on theoppositestrokes thereof to effect pumping. the casing having a passage for theintake of air' into the suction chambe said passage having two seatstherein, a valve movable from one of the said seats to the other seat,said valve being movable through operation of the diaphragm and againstone seat to limit the intake of air and against the other seat toprevent discharge through the passage, said discharge chamber having anoutlet, a pasthe suction chamber adjacent said outlet having a seattherein provided with a groove, and a ball to engage the last mentionedseat on the suction stroke of the pump.

3. In combination with an upright flexible diaphragm and means to flexthe same, a pumping unit comprising a casing, said casing having asuction chamber closed at one side by said diaphragm', a verticallydisposed priming chamber forming part of said casing, a vacuum chambercapping said priming chamber, said casing having 1 the said lower wall,the said upper wall having a] port therein above the first mentionedport communicating with the lower portion of said air and dischargechamber, and valves for said ports coacting with the diaphragm one toopen as the other closes.

4. In, combination with an upright flexible diaphragm and means to flexthe same, a pumping unit comprising a casing, said casing having asuction chamber at one side thereof, a vertically disposed primingchamber forming part of said casing, a vacuum chamber capping saidpriming chamber, said casing having an 'air and discharge chambersubstantially parallel to the priming chamber and disposed on a linepassing between the priming chamber and diaphragm, said casing having anupper and a lower substantially horizontal wall in the suction chamberin relatively close relation to each other, said casing having a passageleading from adjacent the base of the priming chamber to a port in thesaid lower wall, the said upper wall having a port therein above, thefirst mentioned port communicating with the lower portion of said airand discharge chamber, the wall of said casing having a part projectinglaterally beyond the air and discharge chamber and disposed about thesuction cham-, ber outwardly of said upper and lowerwalls and in directengagement with the diaphragm.

5. The combination of claim 3 having a conduit forming part of the saidpassage, said conduit spacing the priming chamber from the suctionchamber, and normally closed means connected to the suction chamber inthe space between the latter and the priming chamber operable on thesuction stroke of the apparatus to enable thediaphragm to draw air intothe suction chamber.

6. The combination of claim 4 having a conduit forming part of the saidpassage. said conduit spacing the priming chamber from the suctionchamber, and normally closed means connected to the suction chamber inthe space between the latter and the priming chamber orper-.

able on the-suction stroke of the apparatus to enable the diaphragm todraw air into the suction chamber.

JAMES O. McliflLLAN.

rage for leakage r m said discharge chamber to

